Long Branch Man Indicted for First-Degree Murder

LONG BRANCH, NJ - A Monmouth County grand jury has indicted a man on first degree murder charges in connection with a July homicide in the city, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

The jury also indicted Jeffrey S. Williams, 29, with first degree felony murder, first degree robbery, second degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose and second degree unlawful possession of a firearm. The grand jury also found an aggravating factor which subjects Williams to life without parole, the prosecutor said.

Long Branch police responded to a 911 call at 11:41 p.m. on July 16, 2017 from a resident of 111-2 Liberty Street. The caller told police she found her husband, Hector C. Mejia, lying on the ground bleeding in front of her home. Police and medical personnel found the victim with a gunshot wound near the front door of his address. Mejia was pronounced dead shortly after at 11:56 p.m., Gramiccioni said.

Keansburg and Lakewood police also assisted in the investigation. Williams was arrested and charged on Thursday, July 21, 2017.

He is slated for a post-indictment arraignment on Jan. 8, 2018 before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge David F. Bauman.

If convicted of murder or felony murder, Williams faces a minimum sentence of 30 years in a New Jersey state prison without parole and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, subject to the provisions of the “No Early Release Act” (NERA) requiring him to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release on parole. He would also be under parole supervision for five years following his release from state prison, Gramiccioni said.

If convicted of robbery, Williams faces up to 20 years in state prison if convicted of robbery and up to ten years if convicted of second degree weapons offenses, he said

If convicted of second degree weapons offenses, Williams faces a sentence of up to ten years in state prison on each count.

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